General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL

8 December 1988

ORIGINAL:ENGLISH

A/RES/43/105
75th plenary meeting
8 December 1988
Universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of
human rights, of the universal realization of the right of peoples to
self-determination enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and embodied
in the International Covenants on Human Rights, as well as in the Declaration
on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples contained in
General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,
Welcoming the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by
peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into
sovereign statehood and independence,
Deeply concerned about the continuation of acts or threats of foreign
military intervention and occupation that are threatening to suppress, or have
already suppressed, the right to self-determination of an increasing number of
sovereign peoples and nations,
Expressing grave concern that, as a consequence of the persistence of
such actions, millions of people have been and are being uprooted from their
homes as refugees and displaced persons, and emphasizing the urgent need for
concerted international action to alleviate their condition,
Recalling the relevant resolutions regarding the violation of the right
of peoples to self-determination and other human rights as a result of foreign
military intervention, aggression and occupation, adopted by the Commission on
Human Rights at its thirty-sixth, thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth,
fortieth, forty-first, forty-second, forty-third and forty-fourth sessions,
Reiterating its resolutions 35/35 B of 14 November 1980, 36/10 of
28 October 1981, 37/42 of 3 December 1982, 38/16 of 22 November 1983, 39/18 of
23 November 1984, 40/24 of 29 November 1985, 41/100 of 4 December 1986 and
42/94 of 7 December 1987,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,
1. Reaffirms that the universal realization of the right of all
peoples, including those under colonial, foreign and alien domination, to
self-determination is a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and
observance of human rights and for the preservation and promotion of such
rights;
2. Declares its firm opposition to acts of foreign military
intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the
suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human
rights in certain parts of the world;
3. Calls upon those States responsible to cease immediately their
military intervention and occupation of foreign countries and territories and
all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment,
particularly the brutal and inhuman methods reportedly employed for the
execution of these acts against the peoples concerned;
4. Deplores the plight of the millions of refugees and displaced
persons who have been uprooted as a result of the aforementioned acts and
reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and
honour;
5. Requests the Commission on Human Rights to continue to give special
attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to
self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression
or occupation;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to report on this issue to the
General Assembly at its forty-fourth session under the item entitled
"Importance of the universal realization of the right of peoples to
self-determination and of the speedy granting of independence to colonial
countries and peoples for the effective guarantee and observance of human
rights".